I pulled the lasagna out of the oven and dumped it on the side. I considered throwing it in the garbage but I hated to waste food. David could have it reheated in the microwave tomorrow. He was going to have to get used to microwaved meals once we were separated: I figured he may as well start getting in some practice now.
The thought made me feel a little better. I decided to risk checking my phone. Maybe there would be a message from Sebastian, or maybe I could just torture myself a little more by seeing that he hadn’t responded.
But he had.
Me 2
God, I loved that man.
I sent another quick message.
* Can I c u tonite?
I can get away for a while if u can.
What time u finish? Pick u up? *
His reply was immediate.
10
* I’ll be there *
:)
With those few words on a plastic screen, happiness flooded through me.
And then I remembered Ches: I hoped I wouldn’t have to face him again today. It had been bad enough seeing the look on his face this morning; and it had been beyond horrible fighting with Sebastian. I just wanted to be able to see him and touch him and have him hold me and utter the sweet lie that it was going to be okay.
It really wasn’t my day.
He was waiting for me: ‘he’ being Ches, not Sebastian.
He was leaning against his van in the rear parking lot where he’d seen us earlier in the day. He folded his arms as I drove up and threw me a look of such contempt and loathing that my stomach gave an unhappy lurch. I wanted nothing more than to hit the accelerator and drive in the opposite direction and get the hell out of Dodge.
Gathering strength from some unknown place, long hidden, I took a deep breath and got out of the car to face him.
“Hello, Ches.”
“Mrs. Wilson,” he said, emphasizing the ‘Mrs.’.
He scowled at me, challenging me to speak.
“I can guess what you think of me,” I said softly.
“Can you?” he said coolly, raising an eyebrow in disbelief and disgust.
“You think I’m just using Sebastian, but it’s not like that.”
“Then tell me what it is like,” he sneered, “because I’d really like to know. Seb is my friend and you...”
“I don’t want to hurt him,” I said, forcing the words out as my throat began to constrict.
“Yeah? Well, you’re doing a really great job there! His head is completely spun; he doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing. You’ve messed him up real good.”
I choked on my reply but he wasn’t going to give me time to recover.
“You’ve met his dad. Do you know how many times he’s beat the shit out of him? Have you any idea what he’ll do to him when he finds out about this?” His voice was bitter. “Yeah, the military hero will really freak out, his son bringing shame on the good family name of Hunter and all that crap, by banging a married woman.”
I had no words.
He glared at me.
“And what about when your husband finds out? I suppose you’ll dump Seb so fast that…”
“I’m leaving David.”
I spoke so quietly I wasn’t sure he’d heard me at first.
“What?”
I looked up. “I’m going to ask David for a divorce.”
He stared at me, then shook his head.
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. We… I… as soon as Sebastian turns 18.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“No, she’s not.”
Sebastian’s voice came out of the darkness and I closed my eyes in relief. He walked up and put his arm around my shoulders, kissing me quickly on the lips.
“Hey, baby.”
Then he turned to his friend.
“We’re just waiting till I’m 18 and then I’m legally free of my family. We’re going to go to New York.” He pulled me closer and nuzzled my hair. “I’ve found us an apartment. It’s in Bensonhurst – it said on this website that they call it Brooklyn’s Little Italy. I thought you’d like that.”
He smiled at me then looked back at Ches who was staring in outrage and astonishment.
“What the fuck you talking about, man? New York?”
“Yes, as soon as we can, and as far away as we can get.”
“But… New York?”
“Caro’s going to work while I go to school. And I’ll get a job, as well. We’ve got it all worked out.”
“Are you crazy, dude?”